Why does being a drug dealer get more respect than doing things the honest way?

Question

I always hear rap fans say junk like Jeezy is a better rapper than Luda because he's "REAL" I think to myself what are they talking about every rappers real. I personally came from the hood. I fought, hustled was n a gang but I was smart enough not to let those things define me. I didn't do them long because I noticed Oprah, Micheal Jordon, Diddy and other so called "fake" people have way more money than any US drug dealer. Plus they don't have any blood on there hands, jail, and they don't have to hide or lie. A guy from my projects works at the Pentagon is he "fake" If these rap dudes sold so many kilos why didn't they start there own major label. Jeezy needed Puff a "fake" guy to give him a deal with Boyz N Da Hood to get a brake into the industry. Jay Z needed 2 other obviously square guys (Dam and Biggs) 2 start Rockafella. I've meet gangstas they are too gangsta to b business men. This attitude is attacking black men who make it honestly. What is your opinion on this stupidity

Answer 1

Because record companies love idiots like this because they get too caught up in lies they tell and don't watch their money. When the record industry is done using them they throw them back in the streets like a bag of garbage. If all of those rappers did the crimes they boast about on their records they would be in prison. There is no statute of limitation on murder, and if they were moving so much weight how come they aren't under investigation. Most of those rappers are phony.

Answer 2

Are these white people this simple? They have to be playing dumb. Do you all believe young black kids look up to drug dealer’s more than successful black people? Do you really believe a young black kid will admire a drug dealer making 100 K a year or a Doctor making 100K a year? Don't answer this question because you will insult every black person you including your one black friend. Please remember it is a huge difference between living in a situation and being on the outside looking in. Another myth is successful black people don't come back to the hood. Millionaires don't come to the hood because they have no reason to come to the hood. THEY CAN MOVE THERE HOME FAMILY OUT. But the average business owner, principal, doctor, architect, engeneer and so on still go visit there people from time to time. And most are not afraid of getting robbed because they are Heroes in there community. The OG's will protect them because they all grew up together. The ones who don't come back were not well received when they were poor. Sam I will leave this alone because I will be here for a long time teaching these ignorant people. I know even after we tell the truth about the hood. They will still believe some rapper trying to make a dollar or some black person the media went and found to take the negative approach to black culture. Bottom line is maybe the reason why rappers fake the funk is because more white kids buy negative rap CD's and they would rather believe in drug dealers in weed heads than MC's who have great poetical skill. I'm not talking to all white kids because a lot are true hip hop fans. I was born and raised in the hood I out to know. Holla yall must be crazy and they say black kids are ignorant for Gods sake.

Answer 3

I feel what you're saying but I don't think drug dealers get more respect than men who do things the honest way. It depends on who's giving the respect. People are a product of their environment and if all they see are drug dealers around them growing up unfortunately these cats become the so-called role models.

To me "Keeping it real" means never forgetting where you're from and being proud of who you are. If rappers get on the mic and start rhyming about selling dope on the street and they have never done it they're not keeping it real. If a guy is honest, hardworking, educated and straight up middle class and he has pride in who he is then he is keeping it real.

Like the popular saying goes, "It ain't where you're from it's where you're at". As long as you're staying true to yourself that's all that matters.

You gotta understand many rap fans are "young and dumb" they haven't lived long enough or had enough experiences to know what the f*ck life is really about. So they listen to some Hip-Hop and live by every word the way Christians do the Bible.

Personally I respect Oprah, Michael Jordan, Diddy, Jay-Z, Ludacris...everybody that's all there doing their thang. Remember, I don't care how "real" your favorite ex-crack dealer turned rapper is keeping it, all of them are straight up "L7's"; squares; because now they're making music and selling CDs the honest way.

I think you're right on point by saying that you didn't let the things you did in your past totally define who you are. More people should embrace change; it's all apart of growing up and being a better person.

Answer 4

I'll be honest with you... I dont believe you were in a gang or hustled, but this is the truth about it.

The "streets" are what's hot right now...

Hold on, Dame and Biggs aren't squares, they are street dudes who got rich and came up, so just cause you dont know much about them, don't call them something off speculation.

Jeezy has little substance, but is loved more than a lot of artists who make WAY better music than him... but he speaks what ppl want to hear and they love him for that because fans WISH they could be like or do what Jeezy raps.

None of these rappers are still hustling and most of them never have in their life anyhow.. Lil Wayne talk about drugs and guns, but he never sold crack or shot a n*gga.. EVER.

The image is easy to buy into so they do. Simple

Answer 5

it's not so much that they get respect, it's that some people see the hip hop lifestyle and THINK it's real. in reality, alot of rappers are business men who have left drug dealing behind. they say that sh*t because it sounds good on record and it sells records, period. when was the last time you saw Jay Z, Luda, or Diddy out on the corner 'slingin' rock? exactly. What is being miscontrued is that the 'hoodrats' are the same as 'the suits' and we both know that is not true. the video hos, the mansions, etc. are not even theirs in the videos! it's fantasy --and the sooner the general public learns to differentiate fantasy from common sense/reality the better.

Answer 6

Because some people been to jail so they figure they cannot get a 9 to 5 job, so selling drugs is the quickest and easiest way to make good money. Most rappers grew up in the streets around drug dealers or they were drug dealers themselves.

Answer 7

Good point, homie. I feel the same about hip-hop. Why did 50cent sell over a million copies in a week?
Why did BowWow say "Will Smith ain't a real rapper" and assisnate his character?

People call them "real" because they think rappin' about slangin', shootin', being locked up etc is what's real.

I think that crap is fake! I think Brother Ali's raps are "real" along with Pigeon John's, Rakim, KRS One, Nas, and so many others. All the while ignorant kids are callin' them fake and sayin' I'm ignorant.

I cling to what I love and that's hip-hop. Defined by break dancin', dj's, emcees, taggers.
Word.

Answer 8

Thank god someone finally asked this question.

I'm black myself and too tell you the truth I'm kinda embarrassed by this ****. Not to say that I build my image from what other black men do, I don't feel that rappers are 'my people' simply cause we're the same skin color, but sadly society does .


To answer your question though.. The cause for these guys getting more respect than honest hard working people is not due to one specific reason, I'll list the reason i think it's happening.

1. Most of these morons grew up poor or in ghettos, just like I did, but what happens is that after they make a few 100k-200k selling drugs they project a life that seems over the top in the ghetto but isn't really all that impressive to someone with real success. Example. A drug dealing 'rapper' who drives around a set of 4 or 5 sports cars and has a luxurious apartment in the GHETTO might impress teens in harlem but looks like a fool to a CEO with houses in 4 continents and a classic car garage in 3 states. But the difference is that the CEO doesn't flaunt his accomplishments, he looks like a square to kids because the drug dealer is the loudest , shiniest example they have of a person with money. Also it helps the drug dealer that in today's ghetto, everything is justified with ' who cares? he got money '.

2. Rappers and Drug dealers stay in the ghetto, throw a few dollars into community programs during the day and at night go back to the same bullsh*t they rap about, but feel it's ok because they bought a few computers for a school and held a block party. On the other hand honest people get tired of the ghetto and run away kicking and screaming, something I have to admit I might do could I afford it. I don't feel people in the ghetto are 'my family' i don't know 99.9 percent of them nor do i care, I couldn't give less of a **** about yuppies (who I can't stand) but in a yuppie area you don't have to be scared to go downstairs and buy a sandwich at 3am. What I want to say with this is that drug dealers and rappers are psychologic pied pipers for kids in the ghetto, the only thing they really have to look up to as all the honest hard working blacks run away out of fear of their kids getting infected by the same 'who got more money than who' mentality where materialism rules people who have NOTHING and who work out of protocol and not love of trade to get it. A VERY valid fear in my opinion, cause as you said that scene is an attack of honest black men.

3. The Media,
This drug dealing/bling-bling/ 20 inch rim bullsh*t is being pumped into the airwaves 24/7 as hard and as loud as stations can put it out. According to the media life as a young american black man only means one thing... HIP-HOP, you and I both now that's completely false but that idea is being shoved down the throat of every human being on this planet. And after 1997 it hasn't been the innocent urban party music of the 80s, now it's a way of life you HAVE to adhere to be respected, you HAVE to have money, you HAVE to have jewelry, you HAVE to f**k 3 different girls a week and have the big TV , the xbox , the car, the sneakers, the this , the that, all worthless **** they only get so that other people see them with it. Is it all the medias fault? no but they do play a huge part, they were the ones who made american blacks so complacent to what hip-hop culture COMMANDS them to do, who to listen to, who to care about, what to buy, and how to act.

Answer 9

I agree with you. Alot of people around my way are still living the street life and people treat them like they are Gods. I also once live that life but I grew up and realized this has no future no 401 K etc.
I guess its the dangerous life and the risks that they take that make people so glamorus.
I glad I make an honest living and changed my life.

Answer 10

It's not that they have the people's respect, it's that they will do favors. Give some candy for some info on how to break into the game...
My boy Jimmie did it. He knew someone who USED to be in the music industry. Then Jimmie gave him more and more for favors until he broke the skin. It's just people knowing people. And a lot of luck...